Conservationists are turning to artificial intelligence (AI) to help save red squirrels. A new tool called Squirrel Agent uses AI to quickly identify and distinguish between grey and red squirrels, based on physical markers such as tail color, ear shape, size, and weight. This technology has the potential to be a game-changer in the battle to save red squirrels, with conservationists believing it could lead to more effective conservation strategies and potentially reverse the decline in red squirrel numbers.
The Challenge of Identifying Red Squirrels
Not all individuals of the red squirrel species are easily identifiable as red due to their name. In fact, several markers such as tail color, ear shape, size, and weight can distinguish them from grey squirrels, even if they appear to be the same color.
Introducing Squirrel Agent
Squirrel Agent, developed by Gensys Engine, uses AI to rapidly analyze these physical markers and decide with a high level of accuracy which squirrel is which. The tool can then automatically control access to squirrel feeders, ensuring that only red squirrels are allowed into food-filled containers, while grey squirrels are directed towards contraceptive paste.
The Potential Impact of Squirrel Agent
Conservationists believe that Squirrel Agent has the potential to be a game-changer in the battle to save red squirrels. The tool is currently being trialed in several UK woodlands and has shown promising results. Ian Glendinning, from Northern Red Squirrels, one of the conservation groups involved in the trial, emphasized the urgent need for technology-driven solutions to protect these animals.
The Role of AI in Conservation
This initiative highlights the growing importance of AI in conservation efforts. Other examples include the World Wildlife Fund’s use of machine learning algorithms to analyze millions of photographs and identify areas where animals had survived bushfires. The potential applications of AI in this field are vast, with Gensys Engine hoping to expand its use beyond squirrels to other species that would benefit from sophisticated digital monitoring.
The Future of Red Squirrel Conservation
As the data collected by Squirrel Agent builds up over time, scientists and researchers will be able to track family lines and monitor individual members of the population. This could lead to a better understanding of the complex relationships within red squirrel populations and inform more effective conservation strategies. With the help of AI technology, it may be possible to reverse the decline in red squirrel numbers and ensure their survival for generations to come.
Red squirrels are facing a significant threat due to the presence of grey squirrels, which have been responsible for their decline in numbers. Grey squirrels can carry a virus that is lethal to red squirrels and also compete with them for food.
Efforts to Preserve Red Squirrels Complicated by Variations Within Species
Despite their name, not all red squirrels are red. Other markers such as tail color, ear shape, size, and weight can distinguish them from grey squirrels, even if they appear the same color. This makes it challenging for human observers to identify individual red squirrels.
AI-Powered Tool Trained to Distinguish Between Grey and Red Squirrels
How Squirrel Agent Works
Squirrel Agent can automatically control access to squirrel feeders, ensuring that only red squirrels are allowed into those containing food and only grey squirrels into those where food has been replaced with contraceptive paste. The tool is currently being tested in sites around the UK in conjunction with five wildlife charities.
Long-Term Goal of Squirrel Agent
Gensys Engine, the developer of Squirrel Agent, hopes that the tool will eventually be used more widely not just with squirrels but with other species that would benefit from sophisticated digital monitoring. The ultimate goal is to use AI to track and monitor individual members of a population over time.
Conservationists’ Urgent Need for Help
Ian Glendinning, from Northern Red Squirrels, one of the conservation groups involved in the trial, stated that help from technology was urgently needed to save red squirrels. He compared their situation to being in the “last chance saloon” and emphasized the need for action.
AI’s Potential in Conservation
There are already examples of AI’s ability to process huge amounts of data very quickly being useful for conservationists. For instance, the World Wildlife Fund used AI to analyze millions of photographs of an area in Australia wiped out by bushfires to find places where animals had survived.
Despite their name, not all individuals of the red squirrel species are easily identifiable as red due to their name. In fact, several markers such as tail color, ear shape, size, and weight can distinguish them from grey squirrels, even if they appear to be the same color.
